Vehicle LiDAR Scanning Control for Local Resolution and Vertical Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous driving technologies face challenges in enhancing the accuracy of surrounding environment information while minimizing the operational load on electronic control units, particularly due to the limited vertical detection area of LiDAR units and increased computational demands with higher scanning resolutions.

Innovation Solution

The system enhances LiDAR scanning resolution in specific angular areas where target objects are present, adjusts the tilt angle of the LiDAR unit relative to the vehicle's up-and-down direction using actuators, and combines multiple LiDAR units to expand detection areas without significantly increasing operational load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the scanning resolution of the LiDAR unit is increased to improve the accuracy of surrounding environment information, then the measurement precision is improved, but the operation load of the electronic control unit is increased remarkably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of surrounding environment informationVSAvoidoperation load of electronic control unit
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by setting different scanning resolutions in different angular areas. Specifically, a first scanning resolution is used in a first angular area and a second scanning resolution (lower than the first) is used in a second angular area. This allows the system to maintain high measurement precision where needed while reducing the overall operation load on the electronic control unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The detection area is segmented into multiple angular areas (first angular area and second angular area), each with different scanning resolution settings. This segmentation allows the system to optimize resource allocation by applying high resolution only to critical areas while using lower resolution in less critical areas, thereby balancing accuracy requirements with computational constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the detection area of the LiDAR is expanded in the up-and-down direction to improve the accuracy of recognition of the surrounding environment, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of recognition of surrounding environmentVSAvoiddetection area coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses the limited vertical detection area by tilting the LiDAR unit in the up-and-down direction. This dimensional adjustment allows the LiDAR to expand its effective detection area vertically without adding more sensors or complex multi-layer structures, thereby improving recognition accuracy while avoiding significant increases in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach improves the accuracy of surrounding environment information by expanding detection areas in the vertical direction while reducing the computational burden on electronic control units, ensuring accurate identification of target objects even in motion.

Implementation Method 1

an LiDAR unit configured to acquire point group data indicating surrounding environment of a vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Implementation Method 2

an actuator configured to change a tilt angle of the LiDAR unit relative to an up-and-down direction of the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical movement:

Data Source

PatentEP3703031B1Sensing system and vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 KOITO MFG CO LTD
  • EP3703031B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3703031B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3703031B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An illumination system (4a) disposed in a vehicle (1) capable of traveling in an autonomous driving mode comprises: a LiDAR unit (44a) configured to acquire point group data indicating a periphery environment of the vehicle (1); and a LiDAR control part (430a) configured to identify, on the basis of the point group data acquired from the LiDAR unit (44a), information associated with an object of interest present in the periphery of the vehicle (1). The LiDAR control part (430a) is configured to control the LiDAR unit (44a) such that scanning resolution of the LiDAR unit (44a) increases only in a first angle region where the object of interest is present within the detection region of the LiDAR unit (44a).